Hypertension Drugs Tied To Higher Cancer Risk

By Jocelyn Allison

Law360, New York (June 14, 2010, 6:52 PM ET) -- Hypertension drugs including telmisartan, sold by Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH under the brand name Micardis, have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, according to a study published Monday.

The study, published online in The Lancet Oncology journal, looked at angiotensin-receptor blockers, a widely used drug class used to treat hypertension, heart failure, diabetic nephropathy, and to reduce cardiovascular risk.

To assess whether ARBs are linked to cancer, researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland looked through clinical trials published before November that included any...